Nathan Ryder Jr. (1806-03-20 – 1898-06-25) and Melissa H. Vadakin (1812-11-01 – 1845-10-27) were the documented parents of William Henry Harrison Ryder, my patrilineal great-great-grandfather, although DNA has thrown doubt on the Ryder line, and Nathan as William’s father may be the link that is wrong. Melissa is thus my great-great-great-grandmother, and Nathan may or may not be my patrilineal great-great-great-grandfather.
The spelling Rider was sometimes used, a common variation, but Ryder is used on his gravestone, so I’ll stick with it here. Nathan remarried after Melissa’s death.
Nathan was supposedly the son of Nathan Rider and Ireana Cushman, the fifth child of seven and eldest of two sons, but Nathan Sr. may not have been his father, and almost certainly was not William’s biological paternal grandfather. Nathan Sr.’s father Ebenezer had opposed the American Revolution, being a so-called Loyalist, and fled to Canada afterwards with his children, including Nathan, where he was provided a land grant as reward for his loyalty; but Nathan Sr. chose to return to America, and married Ireana in Dorset, Vermont on 1794-12-14. Ebenezer’s descent has been traced back to John Ryder of Newport Pagnell, and DNA has confirmed at least his father’s descent from John’s immigrant son William.
Melissa was the daughter of Philip Vadakin and Philema Rutherford. She died just before her 33rd birthday. The only source I have for her exact birth and death dates is a cemetery transcription⟮1⟯Find a Grave memorial for Melissa, which is consistent with census records.
Nathan and Melissa married 1833-06-02. They had 7 children; this is probably all of them:
Nathan married secondly on 1846-11-17 Ann Eliza Brown (1819–1887), daughter of Stillman Brown and Betsey Roberts. They had three children:
None of Nathan’s sons other than William had any sons. Thus, Y chromosome tests could not be used directly to verify descent from Nathan. The same is true of Nathan Sr.; all of his male-line descendants are through Nathan.
On the flip side, Melissa may have female-line descendants, which could help identify her mother’s parents; see that entry for more.
Nathan wrote a will in 1893, and then later two addenda to it.⟮4⟯ They are transcribed below. There are odd discrepancies in the dates, so there may have been copying errors. A previous will is also referenced.
Last will and testament, dated 1893-12-13:
I, Nathan Ryder of Brandon, Rutland Co and State of Vermont, being in a comfortable state of health, and in my own apprehension of sound mind yet sensible of the increasing liability to sudden death, do judge it best to make and accordingly do make this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills, of all previous dates.
It is my will that all my just debts, and funeral expenses be paid and discharged, and that the inscription on my monument be completed and a suitable marker be set up at the head of my grave, to be paid for out of my estate, by my executors, without unnecessary delay, after my decease.
Furthermore, having made in advance payment to my daughter Felicia Annette Doud, wife of Willard J. Doud of New Haven, Addison Co. Vt., the sum of $1300.00 the same being invested in real estate and personal property situated in the town of New Haven aforesaid, $1300.00 being in my judgment the just and equitable portion of my estate that she would inherit, therefore it is my will that neither my said daughter nor any of her heirs shall have or take further part or interest in my estate as property.
I also having made advance payment to my son William Henry Harrison Ryder of Leicester in the County of Addison and State of Vt. the sum of $1300.00 the same being invested in real estate and personal property situated in the town of Leicester aforesaid, therefore it is my will that my said son Wm. H. H. Ryder or his heirs have no further part or interest in my estate as property, the said $1300.00 being the full and just portion of my estate that would otherways fall to him.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Irene M. Parker, widow of the late Senter S. Parker of the City of Toledo, Ohio, the sum of $800.00, in addition to five hundred dollars paid to her March 26th 1890, making $1300.00 paid to each of the three living children of my first wife. The above named $800.00 is to be paid out of my estate by my executors within six months from the date of my decease. I also give and bequeath to my said daughter Irene M. Parker my gold watch that I now carry in my pocket, for a keepsake, as I had previously willed it to her late husband.
I give and bequeath to my son Francis W. Ryder of Lawrence, Mass. and to my daughter-in-law Amy P. Ryder as the natural guardian of Ethel Amy Ryder, of Brandon, jointly and severally one equal undivided half of all my estate both real and personal after the conditions of this will have been complied with and they are hereby constituted residuary legatees of my estate, upon the final settlement of the same.
My real estate consists of a house, barn and garden No. 11 Seminary St. adjoining my homestead on the North. I give and bequeath the above named premises with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging jointly and severally to Francis W. Ryder + Amy P. Ryder as the legal representative of S. B. Ryder deceased.
I gave my wife a deed of my home about 11 years ago expecting she would outlive me, but it was otherwise ordained(?), and it reeicefees(?) to her heirs at my decease, my personal property, (?) notes, debentures, savings, bank deposits, household furniture, staur(?) + beds, bedding and many things that need not be named. Further conditions are that Francis W. Ryder shall account for all moneys that have been paid to him, intended to be applied on his portion of my estate, and Amy P. Ryder is to account for all moneys that have been paid to her as to Stillman B. Ryder deceased during his lifetime, intended to be applied on his portion of my estate.
And I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my son Francis Wayland Ryder of Laurence, Mass., to be Executor of this my last will and testament, and I give said Executor full power and authority to execute this my last will and testament according to the provisions thereof, and according to the laws of the state of Vt. and to secure without bonds(?).
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal and publish and declare this to be my last will and testament this 13th day of December 1893.
His first codicil, dated 1895-07-03, apparently in response to the death of Irene’s son in 1894⟮5⟯Find a Grave memorial for Sewall Parker and perhaps her husband’s death in 1893⟮6⟯ (Irene’s daughter Irene appears to be still living⟮7⟯The 1900 census (FamilySearch) says she had had three children, with two still living; one, Eva Irene, had died young.):
I Nathan Ryder of Brandon, Rutland Co and State of Vt. being favored with good health and the full use of my mental faculties and in consequence of deaths that have occurred consider it best to make, and accordingly do make this my last codicil, appended to my last will and testament, dated at Brandon Vt. Dec. 13th 1892. It is my will that the $800.00 according to my last will and testament of the above date, yet due to my daughter Irene M. Parker of Toledo, Ohio be invested, and my Executor is hereby authorized to invest the same in bonds or other good security and that the interest be paid to my said daughter I. M. Parker as it becomes due during her natural life, and that at her decease the said $800.00 shall be divided as follows, namely, one fourth to Felicia Annette Doud of New Haven Vt., one fourth to Wm. H. H. Ryder of Leicester Vt., one fourth to Francis W. Ryder now of Denver Colorado, one fourth to Amy P. Ryder as the natural guardian of Ethel Amy Ryder, or to their heirs as the case may be severally.
In testimony whereof I have set my hand and seal, and publish this to be my last codicil and testament this 3rd day of July 1895.
A last addendum, dated 1898-03-05:
March 5, 98:
This is to certify that I Nathan Ryder in consequence of the heavy losses that I have met with in the bankrupt estate of George and Frank Briggs and the Orwell(?) Trust + Guarantee do feel(?) compelled to say that the item in my last will and testament giving my daughter Irene M. Parker of Toledo Ohio, dated July 20, 1855 $800.00 will need to be reduced at least one half. I therefore authorize my executor to reduce the same to $400.00, this being subject to the same condition as that of July 20, 1895.
I am tinting the whole tree since my descent from him is doubted. Beyond that, my descent from Nathan Sr. is basically ruled out by DNA, and Nathan Jr.’s descent from him is itself doubtful. The Ryder line goes back to John Ryder of Newport Pagnell, the great-grandfather of John Ryder, husband of Ester Hall.
Note that Nathan Sr.’s parents are second cousins through the Crowell sisters.